Reef Cafe — Restaurant in Coral Bay

I would consider coming back and even changing my review to a higher rating if the restaurant can address this question: Does your restaurant have regular customers who always sit at the same table for over 10 years? If so, I suggest putting a "Reserved" sign on that table.

Here's what happened during my visit: My friend went inside to order, and I understood that your restaurant operates on a self-service system where customers order and then find any available table to sit at. There were two tables outside, and since I preferred sitting outside, I chose one of them. Shortly after, an older man approached me and claimed he had been a regular customer for over 10 years. He even brought his own drink and seemed familiar with the staff, as they were chatting like old acquaintances.

Who am I to argue? I’m just a foreign tourist who ordered a meal for just over 50 AUD at the only restaurant open that night in Coral Bay. I didn’t want to create a scene or cause trouble, especially since I was there with a friend. Combined, our order of food and drinks would have been around 100 AUD. I wasn’t going to complain about the prices because we saw the menu, understood the costs, and made our choice. However, as non-regular customers, it felt frustrating to have to move just because someone else unofficially claimed the table.

I keep wondering, is this normal behavior or etiquette in Australia? As a tourist who has visited over 40 countries, I find it unusual. This isn’t my first time in Australia; I’ve been here six times and chose to visit this remote beach because I’d run out of places to explore. However, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern during my trips: older people coming to the table I’m sitting at and claiming it’s “their table” without any clear indication that the table is reserved or occupied.

I’m fairly sure this isn’t international etiquette, but perhaps it’s unique to Australia. What I don’t know is how to respond appropriately in these situations because I’m not familiar with the local customs. Is this normal behavior or something else? Could it even be a subtle form of discrimination against tourists?

To be clear, the food was fine. My only suggestion is to implement a seating system to avoid unnecessary conflicts between customers. If there’s a self-service approach, the seating should be first-come, first-served unless a table is clearly marked as reserved. If this had been the last available table, I wouldn’t have moved. But since there were two, I didn’t want to cause a scene instead I...

We placed an order at 6.30pm for two pizzas alongside friends who also ordered two pizzas for their children. We were told there was a one hour wait and we accepted that. We arrived to collect our pizzas, told to wait another 30 minutes. After another 45 minutes told it would be another 10-20 minutes. No apology, no acknowledgment of the delay and when questioned told “well you can get a refund”. We spoke to two staff who told us “to appreciate they were busy and that lots of people wanted pizza”. When I suggested an apology or partial refund for the additional delay would be useful (our husbands had also ordered drinks at the bar whilst waiting), I was met with a dismissive no. I asked to speak with their manager and they refused. I asked again, they told me ‘Giovanni’ wasn’t in and he wouldn’t be bothered with our complaint because “he would know they were busy and doing their best”. It’s been two hours and we still don’t have our dinner. The server the had the audacity to say to my husband “thanks for the abuse” when all he did was politely ask why they weren’t upfront with the delay. When asked to clarify, she acknowledged that she had been abused by everyone else that evening, but not by him. The issue is above the servers and kitchen staff, perhaps there should be a policy around not accepting takeaway orders on a busy evening so we (and many others) could have the option of alternative arrangements.

Edit: We eventually got our pizzas. The seafood was okay but not very flavourful, the margherita was okay but perhaps that was the poor service affecting our experience. Disappointing end...

The manager (Giovana?) that was on had a very poor attitude and was extremely rude to me and one of my friends. Half our table of 10 didn’t get served and the meal I ordered was the spaghetti Napolitana which the pasta was undercooked and very chewy which I had to send back to the kitchen. I went to the manager to let her know how she made me feel after asking for a straw but just received more attitude from her.

After visiting coral bay 5 times now this is the only time someone has shown a very poor attitude and it’s really disappointing to me and my group of friends who felt the same way - this was most of the groups last night and now there last memory of this beautiful place is an out of order manager.

I will note that ALL other staff were very kind and helpful.

If they want to make a stand on being anti plastic maybe they should start with the 100’s of plastic spoons they send out every night with ice cream before they start throwing shady remarks about a straw.

Neither myself or my friends will be returning to this restaurant when we come back and we will advise friends and family to also go to bills only if they want to be treated with respect.

Happy to discuss further if more details are required about our last night in coral bay that was...